Tickets
Hotels
Tours
Insurance
Trains
CyprusThe sights of Cyprus are ancient ruins, archaeological parks, museums, ancient temples, picturesque mountain villages and natural attractions. But it is not necessary to strive to visit them all, since most of them are quite of the same type. Therefore, after looking at some of the most interesting of them, ostialnye can be skipped or visited at will. Below is a list of the most interesting places that you should definitely try to visit regardless of the place of your holiday in Cyprus. You can do this yourself by renting a car (see about renting a car in Cyprus here...), you can see something on buses, but the easiest way is to buy ready-made excursions. Excursions are sold at all resorts at travel agencies on the street, or you can pick them up and book them online at one of these trusted sites. What is convenient, when searching online you can also read real reviews of other tourists about the excursion you are interested in:
See also details:
As for tourist entertainment, there are zoos and water parks, although by Russian standards the prices for entertainment are very high. Both evening and night holidays are well developed, but only in certain resorts in Cyprus. The center of night and resort life is Ayia Napa, and it is here that you should go if you want to break away at the disco, visit the casino, stay late at the bar, meet other tourists at the bar, etc. In other resorts of Cyprus there are also bars and restaurants, there are nightclubs, but not like in Ayia Napa.
So, here is a list and a brief description of the most interesting sights of Cyprus, indicating their opening hours, costs and ways to get to them. If you rent a car, you can download points from our map of Cyprus in the form of a KMZ/KML file, and download them to the Navigator or MAPS application for your smartphone.
Archaeological Park of Paphos (Kato Paphos Archaeological Park)
It is the main archaeological and historical landmark of Paphos, and one of the most visited places by tourists in all of Cyprus, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This open-air museum occupies a large area and includes many attractions, including ruins of houses and villas, temples, mosaics and individual exhibitions in museum buildings. Here is the lighthouse of Paphos and the amphitheater. For a visit it is better to allocate half a day, everything can be viewed in three hours. Learn more about the Archaeological Park of Paphos here.
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: the working time depends on the season. Summer period from April 16 to September 15:08: 30-19: 30; winter period from September 16 to April 15:08:30 - 17:00. It is better to inspect early in the tour or before closing, when there are fewer people.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: 4.5 euro (5.23 USD).
🚶 How to get there: located almost in the center of Paphos, the entrance is from Apostolou Pavlou Avenue (entrance to the Archaeological Park on the map). You can get from the center on foot (15-20 minutes) or take the city bus for 1.5 euros to Kato Paphos Main Bus Station, and walk 10 minutes. For private transport there is a large free parking 200 meters from the entrance.
Tombs of the Kings
Tourists vacationing in Paphos, be sure to visit the ancient monument of Culture – The Royal Tombs. This work of architectural art was intended for the local nobility, not for the rulers. The territory of the necropolis includes 8 burial complexes, which are marked for the convenience of tourists. At the entrance to the complex there is a large parking lot. It is better to come here in the morning, when it is not so hot, and wear comfortable shoes. The royal tombs are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Learn more about the royal tombs in Paphos here.
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: the working time depends on the season. Summer period from April 16 to September 15:08: 30-19: 30; winter period from September 16 to April 15:08:30 - 17:00.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: 2.5 euro (2.91 USD).
🚶 How to get there: located near the center of Paphos, easy to reach on foot (tombs on the map. You can take the city bus number 615 to the stop "Tombs of the Kings". For private transport in front of the entrance there is free parking.
Baths of Aphrodite
The bathhouse is located far from Paphos on the Akamas Peninsula, and actually belongs to Polis town and Akamas National Park (Akamas), but is successfully visited from Paphos. This is a beautiful natural attraction - a grotto with a source emanating from the rock in the form of a small waterfall. According to legend, it was here that Aphrodite took her baths, and it is believed that if you swim in the spring, you can stay young forever, but swimming in it, unfortunately, is forbidden. Also, the locals believe that the source brings fertility. If you want to experience the power of the source, you have to take water in your container and pour it. Learn more about the source of Aphrodite here.
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: around the clock.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.
🚶 How to get there: Aphrodite's bath is located on the Akamas Peninsula, 50 kilometers from Paphos and 9 from Polis (bathhouse on the map. The road here leads through Polis. The easiest way to see the baths with a tour, but you can get there by rented car or buses, on the road in one direction is about an hour and a half. For more information on how to get there, see the link with a full description.
Aphrodite's Rock
The stone or rock of Aphrodite protrudes from the sea off the coast south of Paphos. It's just a beautiful place, nothing more. It is considered the birthplace of the goddess of love and beauty. Here, as the legend says, coming out of the snow-white sea foam on the shore, Aphrodite blessed Cyprus for Prosperity. Visitors to this place call it "the beach from the picture", it is so beautiful, especially at sunset. However, the attraction has its drawbacks: firstly, it is still a wild beach, the coast is rocky and there is no infrastructure, and secondly, because of the popularity a lot of people come here, and it will not be possible to relax here in the season. The bottom of the beach is rocky, swimming is dangerous. Learn more about the stone and Aphrodite Bay here.
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: around the clock.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.
🚶 How to get there: located 25 kilometers from Paphos and 44 from Limassol (stone on the map. It is best to get here by rented transport or taxi. For private transport, there is a spacious free parking, from which a pedestrian tunnel under the road leads to the beach and to the stone. You can also get there on passenger buses #630 (sent from the center of Paphos) and #631 (departs from the tourist area of Kato Paphos) for 1.5 euros. The trip is best combined with a visit to the village of Kuklia.
Akamas Peninsula and reserve
Peninsula and reserve Akamas (Akamas) – one of the most striking natural attractions of Cyprus, a must-visit at the first opportunity. Akamas attracts tourists with its landscapes and natural attractions, including Beautiful Bays, wild secluded beaches, unusual rocky formations, and diverse vegetation. The most beautiful bay in Cyprus, Blue Lagoon Bay, is located here.
There is no entrance fee for Akamas, the operating time is also not set. You can come here for free and at any time and go for a walk, but it is better to do it, of course, during the day. Along the peninsula and the territory of the National Park there are many hiking trails and roads along which you can freely move on foot, on bicycles, ATVs, cars. Learn more about Akamas nature reserve here.
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: around the clock.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.
🚶 How to get there: the peninsula and Akamas Nature Reserve are located at the extreme western point of the island of Cyprus, 45 kilometers from Paphos (Akamas Peninsula on the map. It is best to get there by rented transport. You need to go to one of the starting points from where the routes start: Aphrodite's Bath (bathhouse on the map) or Smigies picnic site (Smigies picnic site on the map. There you can leave transport in free parking lots. Before Baths Of Aphrodite can be reached by buses from Paphos.
Blue Lagoon Bay
Blue Lagoon is considered the most beautiful Bay of Cyprus, and one of the most attractive natural attractions of Cyprus as a whole. It is located on the Akamas peninsula in the Akamas nature reserve. The water here is very clear and transparent, and really has a blue and turquoise hue. In the Bay there is a pebble-rocky beach without any amenities, completely wild and virgin, at least at the beginning of the season, until tourists and vacationers put their garbage here. The Blue Lagoon is visited in order to relax on the shore and swim, or just take beautiful photos. You can go snorkeling, the visibility of the water is just wonderful. In addition to the view of the Bay, the route to it along the territory of the Akamas Reserve is even more interesting. Learn more about the Blue Lagoon here.
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: around the clock, it is better to visit during the day. In high season, it is better to come here in the morning, otherwise a lot of people who want to relax arrive at lunch, especially on weekends.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.
🚶 How to get there: The Bay is located on a peninsula and in the Akamas nature reserve 50 kilometers from Paphos (Blue Lagoon on the map. The entrance and entrance to the Reserve is free, not limited even for Transport. The main passage and passage on the route to the Bay is near the bath of Aphrodite. For more information, see the link with the full description.
Avakas Gorge
This is one of the most spectacular natural attractions in the vicinity of Paphos, and some tourists and locals even prefer it over the hyped Peninsula and Akamas nature reserve. It was formed as the bed of the river that flowed here earlier, which, like a knife in butter for many millennia, cut a deep crack in the soft rock, forming a gorge with amazing rock formations up to 150 meters high, and this is nothing less than the height of a fifty-story house! Visiting the gorge involves a walk along its bottom for several hours. Here now flows a stream (the remains of the river), and usually the bottom of the gorge is wet, sometimes you have to go in the water. In some places you will have to overcome large stones and climb over fallen trees, but in general the route is very simple, even elderly people overcome it. Learn more about Avakas Gorge here.
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: around the clock, it is better to visit in summer (less water in the gorge), and preferably in the morning, while it is not too hot.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.
🚶 How to get there: the gorge is 22 kilometers from the center of Paphos (avakas gorge on the map. You can get here by bus or rented transport. If you want to go the full route to the village of Pano Arodes, it is better to come by bus, and then leave the village on another route, going along the main road. For more information about how to get there, see the link with a full description.
Steni village and Museum of village life (Steni Village and Museum)
Steni is a traditional quiet village in the foothills of Troodos. It cannot be definitely attributed to a mountain village, however, it is surrounded by picturesque hills and mountains, and is an excellent example of a traditional Cypriot village that will be interesting for tourists to visit. In the village there is a local history museum or the Museum of village life (the Steni Museum of Village Life), telling about life, and a little about the history of the village. It is not very large, consists of one room, but literally "stuffed" with exhibits. If you carefully study the purpose of each of them, an hour or more will easily fly by. There are no descriptions on the exhibits themselves, but they are numbered, and you can take a folder with a description of each of them at the entrance. Learn more about Steni village and Museum here.
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: the museum is open from 10:00 to 16:00.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free of charge, donations to the museum are welcome.
🚶 How to get there: the village of Steni and the museum are 35 kilometers from Paphos on the way to Polis and the Akamas nature reserve, but not on the main road, but far to the side (village and Museum on the map. It is best to get here by rented car, but if this is not possible, you can take buses with transfers. To do this, you must first take any bus in Paphos to Polis (No. 645 or airport) and go to the polis Chrysoxous stop. At this stop, you will need to change to route 640, but note that it runs only twice a day according to the schedule (see schedule and route of bus No. 640).
Fiti Village and weaving Museum (Fiti Village and Weaving Museum)
The village of Fiti has long been known for its masters of weaving, in the past, most of the inhabitants of the village were engaged in this craft. Today it is an example of a traditional village in the foothills of the Troodos Mountains, where you can stop for a couple of hours to walk, visit the local weaving Museum, and sit in the local tavern. It is located a little away from the rest of the routes to attractions in the vicinity of Paphos, so it makes sense to visit it after everyone has looked.
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours:
- From May to October: 08:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:00;
- From November to April: 09:00-12:00 and 13:00 - 16:00.
Sunday off.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free of charge, donations to the museum are welcome.
🚶 How to get there: Fiti village and Museum are 27 kilometers from Paphos (village and Museum on the map. You can get there only by rented car or with a tour, there are no buses.
Kouklia Village and sanctuary of Afrodite Archaeological Park
This is another traditional village with beautiful narrow streets and houses made of white and beige limestone, but among the others it stands out because it houses the Archaeological Park Sanctuary of Aphrodite or Sanctuary of Aphrodite of Palaepafos, also called Simply The Archaeological Park Kouklia. This is one of the largest and most interesting archaeological parks in the country, and in our opinion (the authors of the site) is second only to the archaeological parks in Paphos and Kourion in Limassol. However, I would like to note that without a walk through the village and seeing the rest of the free attractions in it, The Sanctuary itself may seem too boring for such a long trip from Paphos. In addition to the Archaeological Park in the village of Kbesplatno, you can see the ancient Catholic Church Panagia Odigitria of the XII century, the Orthodox Church St. Luke's Church with a bell tower, and on Apostolou Louca Avenue you can find a private snake nursery on the signs. Learn more about the village of Kouklia and the sanctuary of Aphrodite Archaeological Park here.
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: visiting the village is best tied to the opening hours of the Archaeological Park:
- Summer period from April 16 to September 15:08: 30-19: 30;
- winter period from September 16 to April 15:08: 30-17:00.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: visiting the village and its attractions is free, the entrance to the Archaeological Park is 4.5 euros (5.23 USD).
🚶 How to get there: Kouklia village and the sanctuary of Aphrodite are 20 kilometers from the center of Paphos (village and Archaeological Park on the map. It is best to get here by rented transport (there is free parking) or with an excursion, but if this is not possible, you can take buses. Buses run from Paphos only a few times a day, there are two routes: #632 and #630 (see the timetable at the links). The fare is as on city buses-1.5 euros.
Archaeological Park Kourion (Ancient Kourion)
Kourion Archaeological Park is perhaps the main place to visit during your holiday in Limassol. These are the ruins of the ancient city of Kourion, founded in the XII century BC by the Aegean civilization. On the territory you can see the remains of ancient buildings restored from the ruins, temples, mosaics, columns, baths, amphitheater and other architectural objects belonging to the Greek, Roman, Byzantine periods, and the early Middle Ages. The visit should be allocated at least 2 hours. You can move around the territory only on foot, and you will have to walk a lot, so wear a headdress for sun protection, comfortable shoes, take drinking water. To make it more interesting, you can find on the internet and download to your smartphone a free or paid audio guide in Russian. Learn more about the Archaeological Park of Kurion here.
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: the working time depends on the season. Summer period from April 16 to September 15:08: 30-19: 30; winter period from September 16 to April 15:08:30 - 17:00. It is better to inspect early in the tour or before closing, when there are fewer people.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: 4.5 euro (5.23 USD).
🚶 How to get there: Kourion is located 10 kilometers from the center of Limassol (entrance to the Archaeological Park on the map. You can get there by city buses 16A and 16 and walk a little, buses No. 16B, 18 go directly to the entrance to the Archaeological Park. The fare is 1.5 euros. see more about transport of Cyprus and what to move here.
The Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates
The sanctuary of Apollo Hilata (also Gilata, sometimes spelled Apollo Ylatis) is one of the most beautiful archaeological parks, which you will surely immediately recognize from the images on souvenirs and postcards. Like the temple of Aphrodite in Kouklia was a place for the worship of the god Apollo of Hilat, considered the patron saint of forests and animals, as well as the defender of the ancient city of Kourion. The sanctuary appeared around the IIX century BC. E.and existed until the IV century AD. E. during its existence, it was rebuilt many times, and only the ruins that you can see in a restored form have survived to this day.
It will take 30 minutes to visit the Archaeological Park, with the guide's story you can spend an hour.
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: working hours vary depending on the time of year:
- Summer period from April 16 to September 15:08: 30-19: 30;
- winter period from September 16 to April 15:08: 30-17:00.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: 2.5 euros.
🚶 How to get there: located 20 kilometers from the center of Limassol (Apollo's sanctuary on the map. Getting here is best by rented car or with a tour, there is free parking. There is no way to get here on city Autobuses.
Car route to Troodos
By rented car or with an excursion, you should definitely go to the Troodos Mountain area on a one – day road route, visiting several interesting natural and man-made attractions along the way, and ending it at the highest point of Cyprus-the top of Mount Olympus. There are several options for how to get to the end point, but all of them will somehow lead you to the top. Learn more about car route to Troodos and what to see here.
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: it is better to start the route as early as possible in the morning in order to have time to see everything and return the same day.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free, all attractions on the route are also free.
🚶 How to get there: all this way can be done independently on a rented car within one day, armed with a navigator or smatphone with a navigation program or offline maps. The road in both directions is about 120 kilometers. There are also ready-made group and individual tours from Limassol and other resorts.
Mount Olympus (Olympus)
This is the highest point of Cyprus, its height is 1952 meters. It is located almost in the heart of the Republic of Cyprus in the mountainous region of Troodos (Troodos). In winter, its slopes are used as a ski resort, for which there are several ski slopes and lifts. Since March, lovers of hiking begin to master local ecological trails in the form of light one-day hiking tours. For those who like "lazy" rest, the top of Olympus will also be interesting, since you can climb to the very top by car. Learn more about Mount Olympus in Cyprus here.
Practical Information
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.
🚶 How to get there: A good asphalt road leads to the very top from Limassol (50 kilometers), Nicosia (80 kilometers), from the north coast (70 kilometers), and from Paphos (80 kilometers). The road at the very top abuts a military base (Olympus on the map. You can get there in the summer by any rented car, but in the winter months (from December to February) there is snow on the roads, there is ice, without spikes or even chains on the wheels you can not get there.
Lofou Village
It is a traditional Gorna hamlet in the foothills of the mountainous region of Troodos, 27 kilometers from Limassol. It can be visited as a tourist attraction along the way during a trip from Limassol or from other resorts to Troodos and Mount Olympus (Olympos), but it is also an independent resort with a dozen accommodation options. This is a very picturesque place, imbued with traditional architecture and atmosphere. Here you can walk along the narrow winding streets, take beautiful photos, visit the Free Museum of the old Olive Mill and a mini-cave, a large Greek Orthodox Church. Learn more about Lofu village here.
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: around the clock.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.
🚶 How to get there: located 27 kilometers from Limassol (village on the map), you can only get there by rented transport or with a tour. A good asphalt road leads here. The car can be left free of charge in a small parking area at the entrance to the village or on the side of one of the streets, and then walk around the village.
Kakopetria Village
It is one of the largest villages in Troodos, and is considered the most picturesque. It is located at an altitude of 660 meters, and the temperature here is usually 3-5 degrees lower than on the coast. The village is very atmospheric and picturesque, it even has a historical area with several attractions, and included in the UNESCO list. In the vicinity there are trails and paths for walking in nature, however, these are not official ecological routes, but it will not be difficult to walk along them with the help of the Navigator. Learn more about Kakopetria village here.
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: around the clock.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.
🚶 How to get there: located on the northern slopes of the Troodos Mountain Region, 16 kilometers from the village of Troodos and 65 from Nicosia (Kakopetria on the map. It is most convenient to visit from Limassol or Nicosia by rented transport or with a tour. Similarly, see the link with a full description.
Laneia Village
This traditional village on the slopes of the Troodos mountains on the way from Limassol is considered one of the most picturesque and photographed villages on the route to Troodos. True, there are no viewing points with panoramic views of the mountains and the village, as many expect to see, it's about something else… These are narrow streets; bright facades of houses decorated with clay figures; ancient doors at the entrances to courtyards and houses. There are several museums, the Michel Owen Gallery, an old Greek Orthodox Church, a tavern. Learn more about Lofu village here.
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: around the clock.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.
🚶 How to get there: located 25 kilometers from Limassol (village on the map), you can only get there by rented transport or with a tour. A good asphalt road leads here. The car can be left free of charge in a small parking area at the entrance to the village or on the side of one of the streets, and then walk around the village.
Lefkara village in Cyprus (Lefkara Village)
It is the most famous and popular mountain village of Cyprus. There are quite a lot of such beautiful and colorful villages, but Lefkara is advised to visit first of all as the best example and symbol of a traditional mountain village. For tourists, it is interesting for its colorful narrow cobbled streets and picturesque views of the surrounding area, and as a Craft Center for the production of silverware and jewelry, as well as lace and embroidery. It has its own museum, several ancient temples, classic taverns. You can come here on your own or with an excursion, walk around the village, and be sure to have lunch at a local tavern. Learn more about Lefkara village here.
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: around the clock.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.
🚶 How to get there: Lefkara is 40 kilometers from Larnaca and 48 from Limassol (Lefkara on the map. It is best to visit by rented car or with a tour, you can take buses with transfers. An excellent asphalt road leads to the village, part of the way passes along the expressway. For more information about how to get there, see the link to the full description of the attraction.
Larnaca Salt Lake
It is considered the most beautiful lake in Cyprus, and one of the most popular natural attractions of the island. It is the habitat of beautiful pink flamingos, however, they are here only in winter, in summer they can not be seen. And in general, in the summer the lake almost completely dries up, leaving behind only a layer of salt, there is nothing much to see at this time.
But you need to understand that although this place is popular, in fact, if you come here just to admire its views from the shore from one of the observation decks, you will most likely leave disappointed. It's another matter if you decide to take a walk along one of the hiking trails, and that's how we recommend visiting it. This can be either the route "The way of Aphrodite" (Afrodite's Path), encircling the entire lake along its perimeter with a length of more than 11 kilometers, or a shorter part of this route with a length of a little more than 1 kilometer" The Path of Aphrodite" (Afrodite's Trail). Learn more about the Salt Lake Larnaca here.
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: around the clock, it is better to visit during the day in winter from (October to March).
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.
🚶 How to get there: the lake is on the outskirts of Larnaca towards the airport (Lake on the map. You can get there by city buses, taxi, rented car and even on foot. For more information, see the link with full description of the attraction.
Stavrovouni Monastery
It is located on the top of the mountain of the same name at an altitude of 668 meters above sea level. It is considered the oldest monastery in Cyprus, and The Steregushee of the greatest Christian shrine - a particle of the life-giving Holy Cross on which Jesus was crucified. Unfortunately, visiting the monastery by women is strictly prohibited. Only tourists and male pilgrims can freely explore the territory of the monastery, get acquainted with the life of the monks, and even see the shrine in the main temple. Photography inside is strictly prohibited. At the monastery there is a souvenir shop and a store of organic products produced by monks. Learn more about Stavrovouni monastery here.
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: visiting times for tourists are 07:00-11:00 and 14:00-18:00. We recommend visiting in the summer in clear weather, otherwise you will not be able to enjoy the views from the mountain.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free of charge, donations in the form of Local Store purchases are welcome.
🚶 How to get there: the monastery is located on the top of Stavrouni mountain 42 kilometers from Larnaca (monastery on the map. Buses do not go here, you can only get there by taxi, rented transport, or with excursions. An excellent road leads to the entrance, it is better to go along the A5 Expressway, then on A1 and on F106. A shorter route through the village of Klavdia takes a dirt road.